Herbal medicine, or herbal remedies, places much weight on the natural healing powers of herbs in combating illnesses and maintaining general well-being of both the body and the mind. You can make use of these natural powers into your everyday life by making your own mix of liquid herbal remedies.
The preparation of liquid herbal remedies may take some amount of time and a certain degree of skill. Even those who are new to natural health can learn many simple liquid herbal remedies without having to go through various medicinal texts focusing on herbology.
Liquid Herbal Remedies: Herbal Teas
If you’re using dried herbs for your liquid herbal remedies, use 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb for each cup (8 ounces) of water. Let the herbs steep for about 10 minutes in water that has just been boiled.
Using fresh herbs in liquid herbal remedies has a subtle difference in its preparation. Take 3 teaspoons of fresh plant parts and place it in a pint of water. Again, let it steep for a period of 10 minutes and afterwards, strain the herbs, leaving only the liquid.
Herbal teas are sometimes called herbal infusions or tisanes. It is a type of liquid herbal remedies wherein you simply infuse the aerial parts of herbs, such as flowers, stems, and leaves, in water.
Liquid Herbal Remedies: Macerations
To prepare, use the same ration of herbs to water, that is, 3:1. Steep the herbs in cold water and leave it in a cool place overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture and consume as you would an infusion.
Another type of preparing liquid herbal remedies is through maceration. This is essentially an infusion, only that the herbs are soaked in cold water instead of boiled. Herbs, such as marshmallow root and valerian, are much more effective as liquid herbal remedies if macerated.
Liquid Herbal Remedies: Decoctions
Decoctions are yet another type of making liquid herbal remedies. Decoctions are used when trying to make liquid herbal remedies from herbal roots, barks, seeds, berries, and stems.
If you’re using dried herbs for your liquid herbal remedies, use 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb for each cup (8 ounces) of water. Using fresh herbs in liquid herbal remedies has a subtle difference in its preparation. Herbs, such as marshmallow root and valerian, are much more effective as liquid herbal remedies if macerated.
Decoctions are yet another type of making liquid herbal remedies. If the plants are made of much tougher material, it is somewhat similar to an infusion; however it is most often used. Decoctions are used when trying to make liquid herbal remedies from herbal roots, barks, seeds, berries, and stems.
Chop up the plant material thinly and use 1-2 teaspoons of the dried or fresh herbs. Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes or until the volume of liquid is reduced to about a third.
